Concerns have been raised in Vanuatu about the Council of Minister's decision to allow schools to resume after the Easter holidays despite the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Education Director-General, Bergsman Iati, responded to people's concerns on the National Broadcaster, the VBTC.
The country is dealing with two emergency situations the Covid-19 preparedness and prevention as well as the destruction caused by Cyclone Harold.
Parents phoning in were critical of the council's decision pointing out the difficulty of maintaining social distancing in school.
Others also spoke of the financial constraints faced by many because of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the economy.
Bergsman Iati said the council's decision was more in the spirit of ensuring children continued to have access to education even in difficult times.
Mr Iati said in the short term he was leaving it up to individual schools to decide what mode that education takes in their respective contexts.
But he said in the longterm Vanuatu was looking at developing a national home schooling curriculum.
"School or education is something that is a fundamental right, as I have said, for children."
"In the Ministry of Education, our paramount objective is to provide access to education and whatever the situation we must be prepared to be able to provide that access to education," he said.
Bergsman Iati said in the longterm Vanuatu was looking at developing a national home schooling curriculum.